AP File PhotoSafety Glover Quin is setting a trend with the defensive backs, getting out on the practice field early.

ALLEN PARK -- Well before his teammates come out of the locker room, Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin is the first player on the practice field. It's something he started doing while playing college football at New Mexico.

"I've been doing that since 2004," Quin said. "I'm that type of guy, I don't like waiting around in the locker room. It's time to go to practice, what am I sitting around in the locker room for? It's not like it's going to make practice go away. I'd rather come out here and get myself ready -- get mentally prepared, get warmed up, get ready to go and try to have my best practice."

Quin signed a five-year deal with the Lions this offseason. The veteran safety has started every game over the past three seasons and should provide some stability to the back end of Detroit's defense, which has been hit hard with injuries the past two seasons.

Although it's subtle, Quin is leading by example by getting an early jump on practice each day.

"No matter how long he's been in the league, he's hungry," teammate Chris Houston said. "If he can be out there, then (the young players) can be out there, too."

That's exactly what's started to happen. Quin is finding himself with company in the 15-30 minutes before practice officially starts.

"Some of the DBs have started trying to beat me on the field," Quin said, "but that's a good thing because if it gets them on the field, they're going to do something instead of sitting in the locker room. I remember in OTAs, when I first got here, I'd used be out here 20 minutes and nobody would be here.

"Now I'll have three, four, five DBs out here and we'll throw, walk and talk. That's good time to come out here and talk about the day, what to expect, what we think is going to go on, and just getting as much as we can in."